Drive chain



1954 w. H. BENDALL 2,667,792

DRIVE CHAIN Filed Nov. 29, 1947 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

Patented Feb. 2, .1954

invention relates to ,lJivotedilink in? drive chains for powertransmissicn 'purposesand mcre'partimilarly :to methods o'fincreasing-"their mechanical efiic'iency poperatinespeed -range and horsepowertransm'itting-capacity.

" ,The*stmctui'al design :ofchains widely-employedfor this'nurpose is- -broadly characterized by the use of a series of perforated link members,

assembled with overlappingiends and-registering transverse holesrforpivot-members, thespacing' of which --de'termi1-ies-the Working gpitc'h -of the chains.

' I'l'ie-'ineclernchain drive -req-uirement; is increasmgly-eoncerned with considerationsof performance and the 'eost ibulk, and weight of the drive components. "These considerations logically postulate use of the smallest possible drive diametei's and "highipitchdinespeeds on short -drive centers preci'sely theconditienspresenting' "special difficulty forpivotedlink'chains.

I --As is well known, all such chains-operate *with an; essentiallymolygonal pitch ime on the--drive sprockets; since the links-dieing*rigidmannet-conform-Ito a-continuous pitch circle. he effective drive radius consequently variesas each link engages the:sprocketand the links-rotate into mesition :at an appreciably increased relative velocity,=-:striking the sprocket =with4animpact that increases with ;the squaaeofithe drive-revolutions Tpemminuteana the size and =-mass --of the links. frhisiestahlishes arotational speeti limitforeach eizeizcf echain beyond-which it ignotmossible to eperate with acceptable-efficiency or durability. Moreover; there. is e serious economic disadvan- .tage theifact :that the hhain tensile strengths and bearingscapacities required for: durable peration :withinsuch limits are muchgreaterithan can ibe effectively utilized to transmit power.

MWhile itfiis recognized that eerta'insaspects of chain ;.action are-notifuily, understo'od at this time, the general problem ,ofichaineperformance has:- of :course; come inJfor iaiconsiderable-amount .oifmractical observation by; ithosez-concemedzawith itsaiesignpmanufacture and' 'vapplication: *There -.app.ears itosbeigeneral agreement iwithwthe find ines-zof. :a acomprehensivewstlldyflof this subject which-appeared gamumber LDf years-ago :in 'a- -paper entitled an; mew. 'I'ba-SiS- fml'fithearating of roller chain :dnivesflw in;- :the 5 1935 iirransactions oif the American: Societyrot-Mechanical:Engineers, my ;the.':1ate G.;;-M:.iBantlettjPmiessorof -Machine Design; Purdue University, who waseilso consult in -aeneineerzto a prominentchain-manufacturer. In this:pape1y;.afte12:presentingananalysis citl-ie chainsactiomnzeducineiimpact; PrcfessoriBartlett xemarkh :1:iliherezaresicurixietrimental tendencies' whicn result from excessive teller impact, namely; the

'- P wer.

' breaking of rollers; noise, heating; rangi-the wear cf 1s procket" teeth. Roller breakage has :been nearlyeliminated by the --use-o' f'-bette materials and proper heat-treatment: "Noise caused Icy-impact has'been reduced by, the introduction 'ofnew designs 'ofsprocket-teeth, andican be" further-1edimedbybetter lubrication and themseoflshortpitch"-muitiplewidthwhains. Heating is caused *by' wearand alwaysaccompanied' by aloss of Sprocket tooth-wear is the -1'esu1t oi, a continuous succession of blows'administered by the woilers. wear; may be reduced in-the case --of-thesmaller sprockets case-hardening. But assuming-that reasonaltlle attention is given to all other matterstlie'most'important considance will be'rapparentircm a technical paper of much later -date, specifically;in-*the 1946Transactions of the same society, entitled Heavy-duty chain drives for marine 'propulsion service?- N. C. Bremer, the Chief Engineer cfanother prominent chain manufacturer; *wher-ein; =-the -author=cbserves- I x-It'must be emphasized that chain drivesmnlike gears; have s'harply defined upper limits :01 rotative speed for any given-pitch. "="I'hisiimit-is usually established by-the *abilitycfthe chain roller "to withstand the-impact forces created'by the chordaiaction of the chain as *it engages the sprocket.

. thesprocketpolygon-causingchordalrise and iallofthech-ain."*The practicai effect of--this is to create-undue-noise-anci to set up stresse'sr'in the chain which reduce materially its endurance capacity paper also presents a table of ;chain-drive horsepower '-ratin;gs -regardi ng wh-ichtheauthor remarks- #The load tables' given in thispaper are' based -upon a minimum-working loadtwchain strength rn'ecessaryieonly because*oi --rapidly-recurring-dynamic loadings created by chordal action, it is obvious that the chain has an enormous capacity for resisting momentary shocks and overloads.

While the above quotations refer specifically to the roller type chain it is well known that all pivoted link chains, including the so-called silent chain, are subject to the same limiting characteristics and difficulties which, it will be evident, are regarded as inherent controlling factors in their application for power transmission purposes. But it is conversely evident that reduction of the effects of the chordal action and thus, the link rotational impact, is a fundamental requirement for improving the operation of such chains.

It is, therefore, among the major objects of the present invention to provide simple means for substantially reducing the sprocket engagement impact of pivoted link chains, to thereby enable quietQsmoO'th and durable operation over at least'double the present speed range, and to provide these advantages in chains of standard design and construction without requiring extensive modification of the parts thereof or the customary methods or" installation and use.

Objects and advantages in addition to the foregoing will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a diagram of the type used by Professor Bartlett in the abovementioned paper to illustrate the characteristic structure and the dynamics of conventional chain action, showing a chain engaging a drive sprocket.

Fig. 2 is a diagram similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the modified chain structure and chain action embodying the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating a further phase of the modified chain structure and action illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a typical roller chain embodying the present invention.

, Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a partly sectioned side elevationalview of a modified roller chain embodying the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view on the line 1-1- of Fig.6.

Fig. 8 is a partly sectioned side elevational view of a modification of the embodiment shown in Fi 6.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectionalview on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of a typical inverted tooth chain embodying thepresent invention.

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view on the line ll'll of Fig. 10. r

The advancement made in the art by this invention maybe more readily followed by first referring to the diagramin Fig. l, which is sub-, stantially identical with the diagram used by Professor Bartlett in the abovementioned paper, to illustrate the conditions causing impact between chain and sprocket. The sprocket E is assumed to be rotating as indicated by the arrow l3. Rollers [2, at each end of link member 2! extending between positions A and B, have just seated on the sprocket. The centers of the link pivot members ll, coincide at A and B with the dot and dash circular line designated pitch circle, but since the link is'rigid, a line through the link pivot centers becomes a chord, not an arc, of the pitch circle, subtending the latterthrough angle 20 at the sprocket center 0. The working pitch-line of the chain on the sprocket is thus essentially polygonal and the effective drive radius fluctuates through distance H, between the side of the sprocket pitch polygon and its radius R, twice with the passage of each link. Since the line of the next link, between B and C, coincides with that of the preceding link it must evidently rotate through a similar angle 20 to engage the sprocket. In doing so it turns about the pivot center at position B at an angular speed equal to that of the sprocket, and the linear speed of the pivot center at position C, along the arc CD, relative to the sprocket, is thus equal to the linear speed of a point on the sprocket at a distance P, equal to the pitch length of the links,

from center 0. As shown by Bartlett, the links strike the sprocket at a speed equal to 21rP1L/12 feet per minute, or 1rPn/360 feet per second, where P is the link pitch length ininches'and n is the revolutions per minute of the sprocket. The energy of one impact is 'wo /2g foot-pounds, in which w is the weight of the impinging body in pounds, 12 the speed of thepivot center C along the arc CD in feet per second, and g the acceleration of gravity.

Bartlett observes that it is uncertain how much of the mass of the chain plays a part in the impact but that it may reasonably be assumed proportional to the weight of a link and nearly equal to it. Hence, substituting 1rPn/360 for o, and 32.2 for g the energy of impact in foot-pounds is action is proportional to the product of the squares of the link pitch and the rotational speed. Any attempt to increase horsepower transmission by doubling the rotational speed alone, for example, quadruples the destructive effect from this cause.

It will be observed that the rise and fall of the drive strand through distance H, as each link engages, practically doubles. the required link rotation in engaging the sprocket. This inherently large link rotation is seen to be a primary factor in causing destructive impact and, as stated earlier, its reductionis-a fundamental requirement for improving the operation of these chains. It is accomplished in the present invention by providing the chain structure or individual link members with means, such asa mechanical spring or its equivalent arranged to initially hold the links in substantially colinear pivotal alignment with each other, .so that the link rotational engagement action is opposed by an appreciable spring force. I .1, This is diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, where the chain of Fig. 1, is shown pro-. vided with a corrugated substantially continuous spring member designated S, having corrugation portions [4, concentric with each chain pivot member I I, alternating with corrugation portions [5, extending between the pivot membersd The spring member thus described is attached. to the chain in any convenient way, as, for example, by resiliently springing corrugation portions between adjacent pivot members, or by being clipped to the link members 2|. This corrugated spring member may obviously be constructed in any length .dictatedby practical requirements portions assembled end end, "with Babutthig endpor'tions; either arrangement "constituting, inefiect, a substantially continuous spring structure.. It is further-desirable iorcthe.purposes of this invention that the-spring members thus described be: constructed to initially conform .to colinearly alignedchainiink and pivotmembers, in a relatively unstressedcondition, For example,: itis to be understood-that portions '14- and li ofthe springonenibers, extending along .the

colinear chain length "BCR- in' F-ig; 2, initially are relativelyunstressed,'excluding any nominal stress involved theirattachment to the chain structure. The-equivalent spring -portions "Q3;- tend-ing between positions A and-B however, owingto the link and sprocket rotatione'lengagement and the angular approach of points It and H coinciding with theopposite s ides of angle 20, are under an endwise'compressive stress and are thus opposing the link engagement with a radial force componentof the springendwise stress.

It willbe-seen' that a substantially continuous spring structure, applied to pivoted link chain members as described above, wil-linitiaily hold them in resilient, substantially 'colinear alignment. The spring members thus'oppose a spring force-to the potential impact when link engagement 'witha drive-sprocket --bendsthe spring portions out'of theirinitialaiignment. It shouid further-he noted-pinF-i-g. '2, that the spring force opposing the rotational engagement phase of each link with the sprocket E, is also effectively supportingthelink BC, and thus the drive strand of the chain, inits approach to the sprocket,

maintaining it-at a substantially constant drive radius thereon. The chain and link action described can he followed in' detail "by considering in Fig. 2, the action of link member ,2 1, extending I betweenthe-pivot "centers'designated B and C,

when engaging'thesprocket, starting from the position shownin Fig. 2; "It Will be noted that engagement of-the spring supported link commences" at B and that theinitial line of engagemen-t 1301", is tangent to'the 'sprocket;'p'itch circleinstead of subtending "it-as in "the, preceding diagram. in the position-shown, link 'BC supported by the portion of spring member S.

extending -between B- and 'C; engagement 'continuesytheresisting spring force onBC increases in directproportion to the increasing link angle relative to theprecedingglink. maintaining the link "pivot center C, and consequently the line of-"the drive strand, substantially tangential to the "pitch circle. link pivot center 0 'continues'along the line CB to 'lthe point of 'tangency-at Byon the sprocket and the-rotation of the link about pivot center B is limited 'to'an'g le epwhile the -sprocket-rotates through angle '20, as before. Supported by the spring member "S the links "thus rotate through only half the former angular distance and at half the-relative anguIa-r'spe'ed of the'sprocket. Considered in similar terms, and in'comparison with the-conditions in Fig. "*l,'th'e-'linear speed of 13" along the are CD, relative to the sprocket, is *equa-l-to the-linear speed of a-point =on the sprocket'at a distance *P/2 fromthe-sprocket center 0. Substituting "(P/2f for P in Equation 1',"the energy of potential impact in foot-pounds will he 4 CP/W or, since. the impact is new proportional tmthe" Under these conditions the the link-extendingbetween-positions B and square the-reduction imrelative' iink iiclooity only one-fourth that of thewliaimand --sprooket combination '1.

If this improvedlink action: is i inrther sidered the lighter the foregoing ana'iysisfthe potential impactrmawbe iound-to beeev-en iess than that given by i ormula 1 Th is will be mparent rrom-consideratiomer Fig. spwhich shows at the mid po'int of its -engagement= phasei after starting =frem the position in -Fig. It willflae seen thatat this position the link has completed three -fourths'ofei-ts --rotational engagement while the sprocket has rotated throughang le wequ'ivak- 3 lent to 1 half-' the ang-1e --'required for fu'll li-nlwenand p cket combination '1. it. deems understood that this -;ogua;tiQn 13965,..11011. purport t provid other than a simplified -co nparative xpr ssi n .fOr the. impactscondition... terms of the well-known analysis referredto above.

It can now, be obs rved.ithatitheufundamental difference and improvement .in strain. emotion-rem bodiedin this invention resides substantially (in the fact that, other things belngjequal,theeffective angle. of linkrotation is pratically halved, the impact maybe .reducedjto. at least. one-sixteenth of its potential value, and periodic ,plisv placement of the drive strand the planeQof rotation may 'be. virtually eliminated, .byspring loading the chain .in jthe,.manner indicated.

:In practicethere will, .oicoursajhe ahslight displacementgof the strandrowing simply,to..-.its resilient support, by the spring members controlling the engagement action. .It 'willLbesu'bstantially less than, withoutu the controlling sprin however, and the resilient. support .w-ill be of additional value in absorbing the residual speed and drive torque fluctuations experienced with most chain drives. The effeotivoispring force, as already noted, ovaries .direotly ,withlthe link angle or deflectionandis thus of maxim-um benefit on the smallerdrivesprocketrtoothenum bers. "Thisfis ,entirelyfavorable, for although the conventionalanalysis, .used ,aboye,-=assumes the impact condition to -be,indopendent;,=of: the number of sprocket -teeth, .;practiealeesnesienoe indicates that it is relatively much worsewonthe smaller sprockets.

Figs. 4 to 11 are presented toyshowfurtherembodiments of thisinventiomas diagrammatically presented in the foregoing ;part: ..of this-;:speciiication, and-as applied to rrepresentative types of drive chains in wide use... :it :being understoodthat the spring membersrmayrhaverany shape. suited to thezrequirementsiset .fionthcherein." nheattachment of spring members to a standard double row roller chain structure is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Reference numeral 20 generally designates spring members of rectangular crosssection, attached to the chain for opposing the link rotational impact and supporting the drive strand at a substantially constant tangent to the sprocket. As shown in the side elevational view, Fig. 4, the spring members are provided with curved portions l4, substantially concentric with each link pivot member H, and intermediate curved portions l5, extending between each concentric portion and conforming to the curved outline of alternate link members 2 i. The spring members extend along the top-and bottom edges of the links over two or more pitch distances, bridging the space between adjacent link ends. The curved portions bridging these spaces accommodate link articulation in either direction by longitudinal extension or compression, as the links pivot into engagement on a drive sprocket. The lateral width of the spring members is conveniently made equal to the link plate thickness and the springs are secured to the narrow parts of the links 2|, between the pivot centers, with any convenient retaining means such as designated by numeral 22. These retaining means comprise arcuate rectangular collars, preferably also made of spring steel, having apertures equal in'projected area to the combined sectional area of the assembly at the retaining positions. The area of the apertures is made sufiicient to permit passage of the collars over the large ends of the links 2| when temporarily flattened for this purpose. As shown in Fig.4 the collars are assembled in convexly opposed pairs to conform to the clearance between adjacent ends of the inside links. The opposed ends can then be pressed together to provide clearance for assembling the spring members on the edges of the links 2|.

As will be apparent from reference to Fig. 5, transversely adjacent links 2| of each row, in multiple-width chains of this type, provide a double-width edge for mounting the spring members, and for such positions the latter, as well as the securing collars, are conveniently made in double unit widths, as 290, and 2201., respectively. This method of mounting the spring members is advantageously adapted to both single and multiple-width roller chains in that it does not encroach on the normal sprocket tooth working clearancesor exceed the projected overall dimensions, and the chain is thus left free for equally effective engagement on either or both sides in a given drive.

Only one side of the roller chain is required to engage the sprockets in the majority of drives, however, and its abilityto drive on either side is thus of limited advantage. Furthermore, the rolling action of the chain rollers when engaging a sprocket tooth is acknowledged to be of little value, their principal duty being to provide a hearing seat for the pivot members when engaging the "sprocket.

The basic roller chain construction therefore lends itself particularly well to the simple modifications embodying this invention illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive. In these examples the chain rollers are advantageously replaced by spring members which additionally incorporate the essential roller function of providing a bearing seat for the pivot members when engaging the drive sprocket. As shown in the sectioned part of Fig. 6 these spring members, generally designated by reference numeral 30, are formed with is made slightly larger than the linear clearance, between adjacent link pivot members BI, and the;

resilient properties of the member are utilized to spring it into position and ensure its positive retention on the chain between additionally colinear pivot members. When assembled in this manner the ends of adjoining spring members; comprising the pivot bearing seat portions M, abut at the pivot members as indicated by numer-- al 32, ensuring transference of the spring deflection force between adjacent members as each link rotates into engagement on a sprocket, bringing adjacent points 32, 32 closer to each other and The functions of both spring control of the chain action and the provision of bearing seats for the thug compressing the spring members 30.

pivot members when engaging the sprocket, are thus economically and eliiciently combined.

The embodiment of this invention described immediately above can be further modified to provide the basic roller chain construction with an advantageous feature of inverted tooth chains. As is well known, the inverted tooth or so-called silent chain achieves somewhat quieter and more durable operation by virtue of a link form giving a larger engagement contact area with the sprocket teeth although, as already noted, it is subject to the same dynamic limitations as the roller chains. The modified spring members incorporating this feature are shown attached tothe chain illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. Initially colinear spring members generally designated 30a, substantiallyidentical in principle and function with those in Figs. 6 and '7, having curved center portions I5 and curved pivot bearing portions 14, are provided withstraight end portions 3la, 3| a extending from each bearing portion to provide a desirably increased contact area for engaging the sprocket teeth. These end portions may be formed with any convenient included angle and as shown in the sectioned part of Fig. 8,

the extreme ends may recurve to abut squarely. as at 32a, or they may alternatively be extended to a relatively pointed abutment if desired.

When engaging a drive sprocket, as illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 2 and 3, the abutting; ends 320., of the initially colinear spring members will be forced closer together by the link engagemerit rotation. This compresses the curved spring portions l 5, generating the spring force which opposes the link rotation and reduces potential impact with the sprocket.

Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate an application of the principle of this invention to a typical inverted tooth chain structure. Transversely corrugated flat spring members generally designated 40,

which may be either continuous or in short lengths with curved center portions l5 and: reversely curved end portions l4, overlapped as.-

shown in Fig. 10, are arranged on the back of initially colinear chain link members Zia, with the overlapped end portions 43 passing under transverse retaining pins 41, extending between aeemoc lugs: 42": integral: withtithe outsider. link members 2!!) at each side of the chain. The curves-lathe spring members 43-, :aregiven- .sufficientclength to accommodate iby' cxtension' theirequired rela+ tive'li-nk' angle when-engaging the. smallestallowable drive, sprocket: As-rlescrihedrior the preceding embodiments. of 1 this -inventiom: when the chain engages sprocket the/rotational engage; merit; oi 'the'linksa bends the spring members 355 out of their initi lcolinear:alignmentcproducing a springtforce whicn-opposestheilink motionand effectively 2 suppresses impact with. the 2 sprocket.

ItJis-to be understood that thea'forms lointhis invention herewith showniand described aref to beitaken as preferred'iexamples ofithesame, and that-various changes in: the; shape, size and air-:- rangem'ent of parts may be madewithin :the province of this disclosure; The spring I rnemhers; for example, may advantageously bcformed ini'continuous 'lengths ii manufacturing conveniience= permits and 1 may comprise aplui'ality of layers; while chains of the: type shown 'in Figs; l-dan'd' I1 may have -spri-ng memhers substantially of th'e form shown in 8 and'Q, insertedbetween the adjacent ends ct thelink members-and numerous such modifications may be 'resorted to without departing from the spirit of the-invention for the scope of the'appendedclaims.-

Iclaimi l 1.' ma ch'aindrive having a drive sprocket'or wheel characterizedby a plurality of teeth -at 'its engagement pitch-circleand a chain having a plurality of pivoted linkmembers adapted" toengage the teethcf said sprocketattsaidpitch circle andhaving a drive strand center line defining the direction of chain travel in relation thereto; the-combination ofa plu'r'ality of spring-members engagingsaid linktmembersjand cooperating therewith, the spring tension and direction applicationithereof being suchpas to "hold the pivotzcenter;of'eachjlink, and its .following drive strandon'a centerlin'e substantially tangent'to said sprocket" pitch circleduring all phasesof pivotal engagement of a link witha tooth of said sprocket v 2.111s chain drive. having. a sprocket-characterized by a plurality of teeth at its engagement pitch circle and a chain having a plurality of pivoted link members adapted to engage the teeth of said sprocket at said pitch circle and having the links of said chain for cooperation therewith,

the spring tension and direction of application thereof being such as to hold the pivot center of each link and its following drive strand on a center line substantially tangent to said sprocket pitch circle during all phases of pivotal engagement of a link with a tooth of said sprocket.

3. In a chain drive having a sprocket characterized by a plurality of teeth at its engagement pitch circle and a chain having a plurality of pivoted link members adapted to engage the teeth of said sprocket at said pitch circle and having a drive strand center line defining the direction of chain travel in relation thereto; the combina tion of a plurality of sheet metal spring members sprung between said link members and =cooperating therewith, said spring members being between the link members and the teeth of said sprocket when engaged, the ends of successive spring members meeting for the development of lifting forces holding the pivot center of each link and iii) lb its *followingi drive strand; on a centerslinef subgstantiallyl tangent. to said; sprocket pitch circle during all phases oflpivotal engagement ofa link with a tooth of said sprocket;

4.. In a chain drive having a sprocket characterizediby a plurality of teeth at its engagement pitch circle'and. a chain having a plurality of pivoted link members adapted to engage the teeth ofsaidsprocketat said pitch circle andhaving a drive" strand center line. defining the direction of chain travel intrelation thereto; the'combinaition of a pluralityofispring members spanning said links,v ears on said linksand auxiliary cross bars extending therebetween and holding the sidescofrsaid spring.:members .against said links, the spring tension and direction of application thereof beingsuclr: as to hold the pivotcenter of each "link and its following drive strand on a center" line substantially tangent to" said sprocket pitch circleduringall phases of pivotalengage-imerit-of a" link with: a tooth of said sprocket; l

5; ?In' aichain; drive according to claim I, a do ta-ch'able link. impact reducing member for pivot ed." drive chains. comprising a mechanical .spring'zelement with a curved center-portion shaped for resiliently sprung insertion and'self retention between adjacent. chain pivot members, and curved end portions shaped toflenga'ge said pivot :members and resiliently abut curved end portions of 'adjacentlyassembled spring elements. I

6'. 'InJa chain drive -according to claim 1, a pivotedilinkdriv'e chain comprising link'members of curvilinearoutline having spring members at tached'thereto'to reduce its engagement impact with a drive wheel; said chain having spring members comprising initially colinear curvilinear springiportions and-shaped to engage curvilinear outline portions of adja-cently colinear'link members, andizhavin'g clamps holding-said spring members thereon, said springmembers further beingishaped and arranged to hold the link mermhers in' said'initially colinear alignment and resiliently oppose their rotational engagement with a drive wheel.

7. In a chain drive according to claim 1, a pivoted link drive chain having spring members attached thereto to reduce its engagement impact with said drive wheel, said spring members comprising an initially colinear series of curved spring portions extending between reversely curved end portions of a spring, each of said end portions engaging a link pivot center of said chain and abutting an end portion of an adjacently colinear spring member, said abutting spring members comprising a substantially continuous spring structure, the spring tension and direction of application thereof holding each link pivot center substantially tangent to the engagement pitch circle of said drive wheel during all phases of the link pivotal engagement therewith.

8. In a chain drive according to claim 1, a pivoted link drive chain having a spring member attached thereto to reduce its engagement impact with a drive wheel, said spring member comprising a substantially continuous length of corrugated material with corrugation portions extending between each pivot center of said chain alternating with corrugation portions concentric with said pivot centers, said corrugations being shaped to initially hold the link members of said chain in resilient colinear alignment and oppose rotation of the link members out of said initially colinear alignment when engaging a drive wheel.

9. In a chain drive according to claim 1, a

pivoted link drive chain having spring members attached thereto to reduce its engagement impact with a drive wheel, said chain comprising initially colinearly aligned link members and oppositely aligned link lug portions with pin mem-' 'bers extending transversely between said lug'portions and said spring members comprisin curvilinear spring portions arranged end to end with overlapping end portions engaging said pin members and resiliently holding the link members in said initially colinear alignment.

10. In a chain drive according to claim .1, a

pivoted link drive chain having spring members attached thereto to reduce its engagement impact with a drive wheel, each of said spring members having a curved center portion shaped for sprung insertion and resilient retention between adjacent pivot members of the chain and reversely curved end portions shaped to engage said pivot members and resiliently abut reversely curved end portions of adjacently assembled inicorrugation portions concentric with saicfpivot centers, said spring members being shaped and arranged to hold the drive line of said pivot centers of said chain tangent to said pitch circle when engaging said drive sprocket.

12. In a chain drive according to claim each of said spring members having curved center and end portions shaped for sprun insertion and resilient retention between adjacent pivot members of said chain and extensions of said end portions shaped to abut each other and resiliently engage the teeth of 'said sprocket, the ten sion of said spring members and the direction of application thereof being such as to hold each link pivot center on a drive center line substantially tangent to said sprocket tooth pitch circle 12 during all phases of link pivotal engagement therewith.

13. In a chain drive according to claim 1, said plurality of spring members comprising a sub stantially continuous corrugated structure with corrugation portions in resiliently sprung insertion and retention between each pivot center of said chain alternating with corrugation portions concentric with said pivot centers adapted to resiliently engage the teeth of said sprocket.

14. In a chain drive according to claim I, a detachable impact reducing spring memberfor pivoted link drive chains comprising a mechanical spring element having a curved center portion shaped for sprung insertion and resilient retention between adjacent chain pivot members and curved end portions. shaped to resiliently abut curved end portions of adjacently assembled spring members and engage drive sprocket teeth.

15. In a chain drive according to claim 1, a detachable impact reducing spring member for pivoted link drive chains comprising a substantially continuous length of corrugated spring material having corrugation portions extending between adjacent link pivot members alternating with corrugation portions concentric with said pivot members.

16. In a chain drive according to claim 1, a detachable impact reducing spring member for pivoted link drive chains comprising corrugated spring portions shaped for sprung insertion and resilient retention between adjacent chain pivot members alternating with corrugation portions shaped to engage drive sprocket teeth.

WILFRID H. BENDALL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 615,203 Woodcock Nov. 29, 1898 1,090,380 Brampton et a1. Mar. 17, 1914 1,183,718 Best et al. May 16, 1916 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 12,985 Great Britain May 27, 1914 

